• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.108-113
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• 2023

Dyspnea is a common symptom among patients with gastrointestinal cancer, and a comprehensive evaluation of their respiratory function is essential. Self-reporting aids in the assessment of the degree of dyspnea, while objective examination methods are performed to identify the potential underlying causes when subjective symptoms are present. Standard treatment protocols should be followed for potentially reversible and common causes of dyspnea, such as pleural effusion, pneumonia, airway obstruction, anemia, asthma, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary thromboembolism, or drug-induced interstitial lung disease. Careful and close monitoring is required due to the high frequency of pulmonary thromboembolism and the risk of cardiovascular accidents, drug-induced interstitial lung disease, or other complications from some anticancer drugs. In case of hypoxemia with an oxygen saturation of 90% or less, palliative treatment should comprise standard oxygen therapy such as nasal cannula, mask, or high-flow nasal cannula. If non-pharmacological oxygen therapy is not effective, pain control through systemic narcotic analgesics and anti-anxiety therapy with benzodiazepines may be helpful.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.347-354
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• 2022

Referral to an endoscopist is often done once curative resection is no longer an option for cholangiocarcinoma management. In such cases, palliation has become the main objective of the treatment. Photodynamic therapy and radiofrequency ablation can be performed to achieve palliation, with both procedures associated with improved stent patency and survival. Despite the greatly increased cost and association with photosensitivity, photodynamic therapy allows transmission to the entire biliary tree. In contrast, radiofrequency ablation is cheaper and faster to apply, but requires intraductal contact. This paper reviews both modalities and compares their efficacy and safety for bile duct cancer palliation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.67-74
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• 2023

Perioperative treatment with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has proven clinical benefits in terms of achieving a higher overall survival (OS) rate. With its success in the palliative treatment of NSCLC, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has now become an essential component of treatment, even as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy in patients with operable NSCLC. Both pre- and post-surgery ICB applications have proven clinical efficacy in preventing disease recurrence. In addition, neoadjuvant ICB combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy has shown a significantly higher rate of pathologic regression of viable tumors compared with cytotoxic chemotherapy alone. To confirm this, an early signal of OS benefit has been shown in a selected population, with programmed death ligand 1 expression ≥50%. Furthermore, applying ICB both pre- and post-surgery enhances its clinical benefits, as is currently under evaluation in ongoing phase III trials. Simultaneously, as the number of available perioperative treatment options increases, the variables to be considered for making treatment decisions become more complex. Thus, the role of a multidisciplinary team-based treatment approach has not been fully emphasized. This review presents up-to-date pivotal data that lead to practical changes in managing resectable NSCLC. From the medical oncologist's perspective, it is time to dance with surgeons to decide on the sequence of systemic treatment, particularly the ICB-based approach, accompanying surgery for operable NSCLC.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.145-155
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• 2019

목적: 호스피스 완화의료에의 접근성 향상을 위해 요양병원을 호스피스 전문기관으로 지정하는 개정안이 최근 시행되었다. 호스피스 전문기관의 양적 증대도 중요하지만, 이러한 개정에 따른 서비스의 질적 저하 역시 충분히 고려되어야 한다. 이러한 관점에서 본 연구는 1,001명의 암환자, 1,006명의 가족 간병인, 928명의 의사 및 1,005명의 일반인이 해당 개정안이 가진 이점과 비용에 대해 어떻게 인식하고 있는지 확인하였다. 방법: 2016년 7월부터 10월까지 다기관 단면조사를 시행하였다. 연구 참여자들은 전문가 인터뷰 및 선행연구에서 추출된 본 개정안의 이점과 비용에 대해 각각 얼마나 동의 혹은 동의하지 않는지 응답하였다. 분석에는 카이제곱 분석, 단변량 및 다변량 로지스틱 회귀분석을 활용하였다. 결과: 참조집단인 일반인 집단과 비교했을 때, 의사 집단은 요양병원이 양질의 호스피스 완화의료 서비스를 제공하기 위한 시설 및 인력이 충분하지 않다는 점에 더 동의하였으나, 요양병원에서 과한 진료비를 청구할 것이라는 점에는 더 동의하지 않았다. 가족 간병인의 경우 일반인에 비해 요양병원에서 서비스를 제공한다면 접근성이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 더 동의했으나, 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음과 가족들이 환자 돌봄에 신경 쓰지 않을 것을 더 우려하였다. 일반인과 비교했을 때, 암환자 역시 마찬가지로 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음을 더 우려하였으며, 서비스의 질이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 대해서는 더 동의하지 않았다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 호스피스 완화의료의 잠재적인 서비스 이용자 및 제공자가 해당 개정의 이점뿐만 아니라 비용 역시 인식하고 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과 및 유럽 국가들의 사례를 통해 개정안이 실제로 현장에서 실행되기 전에 호스피스 전문기관으로서 요양병원이 새롭게 갖추어야 할 요건 및 방향성에 대해 제언하였다.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제10권8호
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• pp.611-618
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• 2016

암의 3대 표준요법중의 하나인 방사선치료는 전통적으로 악성 종양인 암의 근치적 혹은 고식적 치료외에도 일부 증식성이거나 염증성을 보이는 양성 질환에서도 그동안 꾸준하게 시행되어왔다. 양성질환의 경우 악성 종양과는 달리 약물요법이나 보존요법 또는 수술로 만족할 만한 치료성적을 낼 수 있으나 이런 치료들이 실패하거나 불가능한 경우 저선량의 방사선치료를 추가하거나 병용하여 시행하는 경우 인체에 큰 문제없이 안전하고 용이하게 통증완화나 재발율을 의미있게 낮출 수 있다. 최근 방사선치료기법의 발달로 정상조직을 최대한 보존하면서 원하는 부위로의 집중적 치료가 가능해지면서 특히 노인에게서 유용한 대안이 될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.225-233
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality improvement of dental prosthetic treatment and better dental service for the patients. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 320 users of dental prosthesis in Seoul and metropolitan area from April to June, The questionnaire consisted of 4 questions of general characteristics, 5 questions of dental prosthesis treatment, 5 questions of functional satisfaction, and 6 questions of psychological and aesthetic satisfaction by Likert 5 scale. Cronbach's alpha was o.691 in functional satisfaction and 0.716 in psychological and aesthetic satisfaction. Except 18 incomplete answers, 302 data were analyzed. Results: The functional satisfaction mean was $3.70{\pm}0.51$ and that of psychological aesthetic satisfaction was $3.60{\pm}0.48$. Monthly income was the most important influencing factor on full and partial prosthesis use. Conclusions: In order to improve the satisfaction level in dental prosthetic treatment, the insurance coverage for the dental prosthetic treatment is necessary. The palliative supportive measure for the prosthesis is also required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권12호
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• pp.7107-7110
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• 2013

Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO), an occasional complication in patients with advanced urological cancer, causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting leading to suffering which severely impairs quality of life (QOL). Drug therapy, especially octreotide, a synthetic analog of somatostatin, is reportedly effective in controlling the symptoms of MBO. In the present study, we administered octreotide to urological cancer patients with MBO and evaluated the improvement of subjective symptoms, oral intake, and nasogastric intubation. Fourteen terminally ill urological cancer patients suffering with MBO were included (age range 55-92, 10 male, 4 female). Octreotide was administered at $300{\mu}g/day$ to those patients subcutaneously as a continuous injection. Significant improvements in subjective symptoms were observed in thirteen patients (92.8%), and ten patients (71.4%) were able to resume oral intake. Four patients required nasogastric drainage before the administration of octreotide, but nasogastric intubation was discontinued in all these cases after the use of octreotide. Early initiation of octreotide resulted in better improvement of MBO symptoms, and no adverse event was observed in any of the patients. These results revealed that $300{\mu}g/day$ dose of octreotide is safe and effective for managing gastrointestinal symptoms of terminally ill urological cancer patients with MBO. We also recommend starting the treatment with ocreotide as soon as MBO is diagnosed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.126-139
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze interventions for bereaved families and evaluate their effectiveness, with the ultimate goal of supporting evidence-based nursing for bereaved families. Methods: Research trends were identified based on a search of domestic databases from January 2000 to December 2022, and a meta-analysis was conducted on interventions for bereaved families. Forty-five papers were selected, and information was extracted on participants, research design, and interventions. A meta-analysis of seven papers was performed, and the effect size was calculated. Results: Fourteen papers dealt with interventions for middle-aged women who had lost their spouses, 20 used qualitative research methods, and 20 were on art therapy programs. Thirty studies had fewer than 10 participants, and most interventions had 60~120 minutes per session and 9~16 sessions in total. There were seven randomized controlled trials, and all studies included in the quality evaluation showed a low risk of bias. Four papers measured grief as an outcome, and the effect size was -1.9577 (95% CI: -2.9206 to -0.9947), indicating that the treatment significantly decreased grief (P<0.001). Six papers measured depression as an outcome, and the effect size was -1.6775 (95% CI: -2.1835 to -1.1716), showing that the treatment significantly decreased depression (P<0.001). Conclusion: Intervention programs for bereaved families were shown to be effective in relieving grief and depression. However, programs should be developed that target middle-aged men who have lost their spouses and children who have lost their parents. Randomized controlled trials should also be conducted on interventions to reduce grief and depression.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.120-127
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• 2023

Background: In general, measurement qualities of cross-culturally adapted quality of life (QOL) measures are altered in many aspects, although versions of them are well-validated measures. The latent trait and measurement qualities of the QOL measures for cancer-related samples should be considered when developing cross-culturally adapted measures. Objects: To investigate the latent trait of the translated into Korean World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) administered to different cancer survivors who had palliative rehabilitation care service (PRCS). Methods: A cross-sectional study with 139 cancer survivors who had an experience of cancer survivorship with PRCS were conducted with a two-step analytic procedure including exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to confirm the latent trait and Rasch rating scale modeling to investigate the measurement qualities of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure. Results: While the original WHOQOL-BREF measure constitutes a 4-latent trait, the EFA reveals that 24 items constitute six substantial factors. The item loadings are predominantly spread over factors 1 through 4 in a mixed manner of the latent traits, while the loadings of 'physical health' and 'environmental health' latent traits show similarity to what the original measure intended to assess. The latent trait of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure administered to different cancer survivors is likely to reveal more dimensions than the original WHOQOL-BREF measure. Person reliability (i.e., analogous to Cronbach's alpha) and separation are measured with 0.92 and 3.48, respectively. All items except the one item (medical treatment item) fit the Rasch rating model. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the latent trait and the measurement qualities of the cross-culturally adapted WHOQOL-BREF measure should be taken into consideration when applying versions of it to various populations.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.119-131
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• 2024

There are growing concerns regarding the safety of long-term treatment with opioids of patients with chronic non-cancer pain. In 2017, the Korean Pain Society (KPS) developed guidelines for opioid prescriptions for chronic non-cancer pain to guide physicians to prescribe opioids effectively and safely. Since then, investigations have provided updated data regarding opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain and have focused on initial dosing schedules, reassessment follow-ups, recommended dosage thresholds considering the risk-benefit ratio, dose-reducing schedules for tapering and discontinuation, adverse effects, and inadvertent problems resulting from inappropriate application of the previous guidelines. Herein, we have updated the previous KPS guidelines based on a comprehensive literature review and consensus development following discussions among experts affiliated with the Committee on Hospice and Palliative Care in the KPS. These guidelines may assist physicians in prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain in adult outpatient settings, but should not to be regarded as an inflexible standard. Clinical judgements by the attending physician and patient-centered decisions should always be prioritized.